The Indian Lake Lakers cross-country teams opened their 2026 season Saturday at the Northwestern Warrior Invitational, giving several runners their first opportunity to compete in a full two-mile or 5K race.

In the high school boys 5K, Hayden Kuhlke led the Lakers with a 29th-place finish, crossing the line in 19:34. Dalton Young followed in 79th with a time of 22:09.

The Indian Lake High School girls turned in an eighth-place team finish, led by strong performances from Laura Metzger and Alicia Brielmaier. Metzger finished 17th in 22:55, while Brielmaier was right behind in 18th at 22:57.

Kayleigh Taylor finished 50th in 25:21, followed by Abby Arnett in 60th at 26:28 and Haley Metzger in 78th at 27:54.

The middle school boys placed 11th as a team. Hayden Thompson paced the Lakers with a 41st-place finish in 14:20, while Isaac King finished 54th in 14:39.

Lincoln Halterman crossed the line 113th in 17:56, followed by Lincoln Nielsen in 115th at 18:02 and Carter Flory in 116th at 18:05. Owen Flory rounded out the Indian Lake runners in 124th with a time of 18:22.

The middle school girls earned a ninth-place team finish. Taylor Alltop led the way for Indian Lake, finishing 54th in 18:27, while Serenity Albert placed 55th in 18:32. Raelyn Hoge finished in 92nd (21:52) for the middle school girls.

Aubrey Hoffman finished 72nd in 19:53, followed by Makenna Gibbons in 75th at 20:10. Kaylyn Warren finished 87th in 21:29, Cheyenne Pender was 88th in 21:31 and Kenzie Arnett finished 89th in 21:32.

With the season opener now in the books, the Lakers will turn their attention to the Kiwanis Logan County Championships on Tuesday at Bellefontaine’s Southview Park.

For many of Indian Lake’s runners, Saturday marked the beginning of their first cross-country season and their first experience competing at race distance. With the opening meet behind them, the Lakers will look to build on Saturday’s performances as the season progresses.